Dreamworks Creates New Chief Creative Officer Positions For Features And TV
In addition to the recent appointment of Margie Cohn as president of Dreamworks Animation, the studio announced this week two newly created leadership roles: Kristin Lowe has been named chief creative officer, features and Peter Gal is chief creative officer, television.
Effective immediately, these appointments aim to streamline processes in the studio’s upcoming slate by having one leader oversee all aspects of the projects in each division. Both Lowe and Gal will report to Cohn.
Cohn also announced additional changes to her management team, with the aim of bringing administrative roles for features and tv under one corporate umbrella. Under Cohn’s new alignment Michael Vollman will serve as evp, marketing; Courtenay Palaski as svp, head of communications; Josh Meyer as head of business affairs; and Ashley Brinsfield as head of human resources and recruiting. They will all report to Cohn, as well as CFO Kelly Betz; Daniel Solnicki, evp business operations; and head of legal affairs Robbin Kelly.
“With this new structure, DWA is positioned for growth as we continue to create beloved and award-winning films and television series,” said Cohn. “Kristin and Peter are both very well-respected executives, and their leadership will only serve to strengthen DWA’s position as a home to the very best storytellers. The pitch and catch between the two divisions will ensure that diverse and unique voices can find their home regardless of the medium.”
Lowe, who will be chief creative officer on the feature side, will oversee feature development, casting, and artistic management departments. Prior to joining Dreamworks, she spent 14 years at Universal Pictures, where her most recent role was as evp, production. During her time at Universal she oversaw production on successful releases including Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Night School, and the Fifty Shades trilogy.
Over the past two years, Lowe has been working with DWA to develop their slate since Comcast-NBCUni’s acquisition of the studio in 2016. Dreamworks’ upcoming slate includes Abominable (in partnership with Pearl Studio), Trolls 2, The Croods 2, and The Boss Baby 2.
Meanwhile, Gal’s new role will expand on his previous position as evp, development on the television side in order to incorporate preschool programs, current series, casting, music, and creative talent management departments.
Gal, a former development executive at Nickelodeon and Disney, has been at DWATV since the division’s launch in 2013. Although the division was originally tasked with creating content based on Dreamworks features, it has now expanded into re-imagining classic properties like Voltron Legendary Defender, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, as well as tapping into Universal’s live-action properties with the upcoming Fast & Furious animated series. The division has produced over 20 animated series and currently has over 25 shows in active production.